Determinants of societal costs in Alzheimer's disease: GERAS study baseline results

Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Aug;11(8):933-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.02.005. Epub 2015 Apr 4.

Abstract

Background: To identify the main factors associated with societal costs of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in community-dwelling patients across three European countries.

Methods: Baseline cost data from a prospective, observational study were used. Assessments included patients' cognition, activities of daily living (ADLs) and behavioral symptoms, and caregiver burden. Cost calculations (2010) from the societal perspective were based on patient/caregiver resource use. Generalized linear models estimated factors associated with costs.

Results: Mean monthly costs per patient differed for France (€1881), Germany (€2349), and the UK (€2016), with informal care costs accounting for 50% to 61%. Independent factors associated with costs across all countries were ADL total score, patient living arrangements, caregiver working status, and caregiver burden (all P < .05). Additional factors were significant for the pooled cohort or individual countries.

Conclusions: Several patient and caregiver factors, including factors associated with informal care, should be included when evaluating care options for patients with AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Cost of illness; Dementia; Factors; Health care costs.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living / psychology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / economics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / epidemiology
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Delivery of Health Care / economics*
  • Delivery of Health Care / methods*
  • Delivery of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs*
  • Health Resources / economics
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Residence Characteristics